The Jacobs family lived and worked in Michelmersh and Timsbury for many generations.
In the 1880s William and his wife, Olive, were living in the thatched cottage in Michelmersh where the footpath leaves Mesh Road to climb White Hill to Park Farm.
William, then 65 years old, worked as a labourer at Park Farm. The farm was owned by Mrs Wheable who kept a bull which was known to be dangerous. On May 21st 1887 William was seen to go into one of the sheds to feed the bull and was found later with a large wound at the bottom of his stomach.
According to the Hampshire Advertiser 'he received medical attention'. It was decided that he had to be sent to Winchester hospital by cart but, sadly, he died some three or four hours later, on the journey. His wife was left a widow but was supported by their children who were already grown and independent. William's son, Henry was then 42 years years old, married with several children and working for Timsbury Waterworks.
The Waterworks in Timsbury brought an alternative to lower-paid employment as an agricultural labourer. The South Hants Waterworks Company was formed in 1876 to supply water to several parishes between Timsbury and Southampton. To house their workers the Company built four cottages and a house for the manager which still stand in New Road. The waterworks eventually contained a large steam engine and large outdoor tanks. The waterworks still exists but was purchased by Southampton Corporation in 1921 and now belongs to Southern Water. The steam engine, engine house, and chimney are long gone as are the large tanks. Little is visible above ground although the water is still extracted.
Henry Jacobs the elder (1845-1908) started at Timsbury Waterworks as a young man and continued working as a fireman, tending the steam engine, for the rest of his working life. On retirement he was presented with a certificate and an armchair upholstered in pink damask.
Henry's son, another Henry born about 1874, worked at the Waterworks all his life and retired at the age of 65. The family lived in No 2 Waterworks Cottages.
During the Second World War there was a firewatch mounted at Timsbury Waterworks to be pre-pared for bombs and incendiaries. The waterworks survived unharmed but a bomb landed very close, damaging Timsbury Chapel and the adjacent cottages.
The Jacobs family still possess a family Bible recording the names of the family members.
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